Summary: The upcoming National Architecture Week, April 13–19, gives AIA President Marvin J. Malecha, FAIA, the opportunity to present a new way to celebrate.

National Architecture Week was created to encourage public conversations about architecture and its impact on our lives and the world around us. Such robust conversations are especially important as communities across America discuss how best to invest the funds of the Economic Recovery Act. To accommodate this urgency, we are using social media to foster greater participation by the public and AIA members to employ design thinking to transform today’s challenges into tomorrow’s opportunities.

We are using the American Institute of Architects’ Facebook page to make available a broad range of knowledge resources from the national component. In addition, state and local components, individual members, and the public are encouraged to upload material to the site. This could include information about design awards, videos, and local advocacy and public outreach initiatives. The goal is to enable conversations among architecture professionals, builders, community leaders, and the public to identify opportunities to apply the skills of the architecture profession to the particular needs of individual communities.

If you already have a Facebook account, go to the homepage and type “Virtual National Architecture Week” in the “search” box. That will take you to the site hosted by the AIA. Once there, view the resources, add resources of your own, and participate in the conversation. If you’re not already on Facebook, it’s easy to join—and it’s free. Google “Facebook.” After you create an account with your own password, you’re in business. Be sure to invite your friends and colleagues to join in as well.

During National Architecture week, we’re suggesting a special focus each day:

• Monday, the 13th—Community Revitalization
• Tuesday, the 14th—School Construction
• Wednesday, the 15th—Affordable Housing
• Thursday, the 16th—Sustainability
• Friday, the 17th—Inclusiveness
• Saturday, the 18th—Historic Preservation
• Sunday, the 19th—The Future of the Profession

Please join in the conversations and contribute your projects, images, videos or resources and information to our Virtual Architecture Week celebration.